Ask a Track and Field Coach anything

41 Questions

Last Answer on November 10, 2013

What percentage of your athletes play for the full four years of college?

Asked by Tripp FTW almost 12 years ago

Over the years, the percentage of athletes who play for four years, not counting dual sport athletes, 97%.

Does someone have to be big and bulky to be great at the shot put? Is shot put success based more on size, or technique?

Asked by slowburn almost 12 years ago

The shot put is based on the ability to throw. There are 2 types of technique, the spin technique and the glide technique. Both are highly effective, depending on the skill of the athlete. it can be argued that the spin suits the "smaller" athlete as compared to the glide which, favors the bigger bulkier athlete. But irregardless of the style the ability to throw well is based on technique.

964 Votes

How do you ensure that your athletes have enough time and energy to handle their school work? Do professors show them leniency?

Asked by Dr. Spock almost 12 years ago

The students have a set schedule, where they are encouraged to alert their professors that they are student-athletes and provide the professors with their travel schedule before going on the road. Regarding time to handle school work, the internet has become a great source of allowing the students to maintain their classes as well as provide the ability to submit their papers and homework. As for energy concerns, athletes have to pass a physical before they are allowed to participate with the team. if there are any health problems the Athletic department has a medical staff to address any concerns.

954 Votes

Obviously it varies with the school, but on average, how much lower would you say athletes can score on their SAT/ACTs compared to non-athletes and still get accepted into the same university?

Asked by Penn Silzdown almost 12 years ago

The admissions standards are in general the same for students as it is for student-athletes. The NCAA does have requirements for student-athletes to be eligible to participate in college sports and meeting the minimum requirements is a combination of g.p.a and SAT/ACT.

939 Votes

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Do your athletes ever complain that they're missing out on the college experience by devoting so much time to athletics?

Asked by Mr. Scruff almost 12 years ago

For the most part, athletes involved in athletics, are doing so by choice. They are having a college experience, but it is one that includes Athletics. Athletics does not stop a student from going to parties nor "hanging out" with friends. The choice to participate in sports is the choice made by the students and usually your education is paid for by scholarship for your participation in sports. So there is a financial as well as a personal satisfaction gained by being involved in college sports. Your commitment is reflected by the the college's commitment vis a vis scholarship.

923 Votes

Do you allow your athletes to play another sport in the track & field off-season, and if so what's the most common dual sport? And are you more wary of a recruit if he tells you he wants to play 2 sports because he may not be as committed to track?

Asked by Carlcarl almost 12 years ago

Track and Field and Cross Coutry are year round sports. Sometimes athletes are talented enough to be abe to contribute at a collegiate level in more than one sport. In general, if an athlete is in Track and Field, he/she will concentrate soley on Track and field. there are the exceptions, such as offensive or defensive linemen who may have thrown a Shot or a Discus in high school and they are good enough to continue that process into college. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of this, is Michael Carter. Michael is the national high school record holder in the Shot at 81'3 1/2" set in 1979 and he did that during his off-season in Football! He went on to win 7 NCAA titles in the Shot and is the 1984 Olympic Silver medalist in the Shot and then went on to win a Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in 1985. So I would say that the commitment to your sport(s) is reslly determined by your abilities and though very tough it is possible. So the most common dual sport athlete is Football and Track for the men, and Volleyball and Track for the women.

920 Votes

Does collegiate track and field get the appropriate amount of attention and resources compared to other NCAA sports? Does it tick you off if a school's mediocre football or b-ball team gets all the spotlight, while its stellar track team gets little?

Asked by Barry almost 12 years ago

If you were to look at the number of countries participating in Track and Field (over 200 at Olympics and World Championships), you could say Track and Field is one of the biggest sports world wide. At the collegiate level, Football, Basketball and Baseball are very important, that does not diminish Track and Field because usually the success of those programs, in particular Football, allows Track and Field to flourish in the collegiate setting.

913 Votes

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Track and Field Coach

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

What percentage of your athletes play for the full four years of college?

Does someone have to be big and bulky to be great at the shot put? Is shot put success based more on size, or technique?

How do you ensure that your athletes have enough time and energy to handle their school work? Do professors show them leniency?

Obviously it varies with the school, but on average, how much lower would you say athletes can score on their SAT/ACTs compared to non-athletes and still get accepted into the same university?

Also on Jobstr...

Do your athletes ever complain that they're missing out on the college experience by devoting so much time to athletics?

Do you allow your athletes to play another sport in the track & field off-season, and if so what's the most common dual sport? And are you more wary of a recruit if he tells you he wants to play 2 sports because he may not be as committed to track?

Does collegiate track and field get the appropriate amount of attention and resources compared to other NCAA sports? Does it tick you off if a school's mediocre football or b-ball team gets all the spotlight, while its stellar track team gets little?

Track and Field Coach

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

What percentage of your athletes play for the full four years of college?

Does someone have to be big and bulky to be great at the shot put? Is shot put success based more on size, or technique?

How do you ensure that your athletes have enough time and energy to handle their school work? Do professors show them leniency?

Obviously it varies with the school, but on average, how much lower would you say athletes can score on their SAT/ACTs compared to non-athletes and still get accepted into the same university?

Also on Jobstr...

Do your athletes ever complain that they're missing out on the college experience by devoting so much time to athletics?

Do you allow your athletes to play another sport in the track & field off-season, and if so what's the most common dual sport? And are you more wary of a recruit if he tells you he wants to play 2 sports because he may not be as committed to track?

Does collegiate track and field get the appropriate amount of attention and resources compared to other NCAA sports? Does it tick you off if a school's mediocre football or b-ball team gets all the spotlight, while its stellar track team gets little?

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